Carpet edge finishing machine

Abstract

A carpet edge finishing machine having enhanced power through the use of an elongated feed dog is disclosed. As a result, the machine can be used for the most demanding of carpet edge finishing applications and also has sufficient power to pull itself along the edge of the carpet without assistance from the machine operator. In the disclosed embodiment, a serger includes a frame having a planar table over which the carpet moves. A powered roller is located above the planar table and presses downwardly on the carpet edge to forcefully move the carpet. A presser foot is located above the carpet and presses downwardly on the carpet and is located in close proximity to the powered roller. A movable feed dog engages the lower surface of the carpet edge in a reciprocating motion to assist in pulling the carpet. The feed dog is elongated and underlies both the powered roller and the presser foot to sandwich the carpet there between. The movement of the carpet is enhanced by the elongated feed dog acting against both the powered roller and the presser foot.

1 . A machine for finishing the raw edge of a carpet comprising; 
 a frame;    a planar table to support a carpet passing through the machine,    a presser foot positioned above a carpet passing along the planar table and adapted to provide a force directed downwardly on the upper surface of a carpet,    a powered roller located in close proximity to the presser foot and positioned above a carpet passing along the planar table and adapted to provide a force directed downwardly on the upper surface of a carpet, said powered roller powered to create rotary motion thereof,    a feed dog located underneath the planar table, said feed dog being movable to engage and move the carpet along the planar table or pull the machine along the carpet, said feed dog cooperating with both said presser foot and said powered roller to sandwich the carpet between the feed dog and the presser foot and the powered roller.    
   
   
       2 . The machine as defined in  claim 1  wherein the machine is a carpet serging machine.  
   
   
       3 . The machine as defined in  claim 2  wherein the machine is a portable carpet serging machine having wheels to move the portable carpet serging machine over a floor.  
   
   
       4 . The machine as defined in  claim 2  wherein the carpet serging machine affixes a covering tape to the raw edge of the carpet.  
   
   
       5 . The machine as defined in  claim 2  wherein said powered roller is biased toward the carpet passing along the planar table or in pulling the machine on its own along the carpet.  
   
   
       6 . The machine as defined in  claim 2  wherein the movement of the movable dog is coordinated with the movement of the powered roller.  
   
   
       7 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the planar table has an elongated slot formed therein that extends from underneath the presser foot to underneath the powered roller.  
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 7  wherein the feed dog is aligned with the elongated slot and contacts the carpet through the elongated slot.  
   
   
       9 . A method for finishing the raw edge of a carpet comprising the steps of: 
 disposing a carpet edge finishing mechanism on a frame;    providing a carpet support table supporting the raw edge of the carpet passing along the carpet support table,    rotatably mounting at least one roller to said frame above said carpet support table and positioning the at least one roller so as to contact the upper surface of the raw edge of the carpet, said at least one roller being rotatably powered,    mounting a presser foot to said frame so as to contact the upper surface of the raw edge of a carpet,    providing a movable feed dog beneath said carpet support table and adapted to contact the lower surface of the raw edge of the carpet to move the carpet along the carpet support table, and    locating the movable feed dog opposite both the presser foot and the powered roller to act against both the presser foot and the powered roller so as to sandwich the raw edge of the carpet between the presser foot and the powered roller and the feed dog to move the raw edge of the carpet along the carpet support table.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the disposing step comprises disposing a carper serging machine on a frame.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  further including the step of coordinating the movement of the feed dog with the powered roller.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the providing step comprises providing a support table having an elongated slot formed therein and wherein the slot extends from underneath the powered roller to underneath the presser foot.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the providing step comprises providing a feed dog that is aligned with the elongated slot.  
   
   
       14 . A machine for finishing the raw edge of a carpet comprising; 
 a frame;    a table to support a carpet passing through the carpet serging machine,    a powered first member positioned above a carpet passing along the planar table and adapted to provide a force directed downwardly on the upper surface of a carpet,    a non-powered second member located in close proximity to the first member and positioned above a carpet passing along the planar table and adapted to provide a force directed downwardly on the upper surface of a carpet,    a feed dog located underneath the planar table, said feed dog being movable to engage and move the carpet along the planar table, said feed dog cooperating with both said first and said second members to sandwich the carpet between the feed dog and the first and second members.    
   
   
       15 . A machine as defined in  claim 14  wherein the machine is a carpet serging machine.  
   
   
       16 . The machine of  claim 14  wherein the table has an elongated slot formed therein that extends from underneath the first member to underneath the second member.  
   
   
       17 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein the feed dog is aligned with the elongated slot and contacts the carpet through the elongated slot.